Food and Dining Briefs for May 27

Orfila names winemaker:
Escondido's Orfila
Vineyards & Winery has named Justin Mund its new winemaker.
Mund follows interim winemaker Don Reha, who has returned full time
to Temecula's Thornton Winery. Mund comes from Addamo Vineyards and
Winery. Meanwhile Orfila has also recently opened its barrel room,
which can hold up to 100 people among a collection of oak barrels
containing aging wine. Orfila is at 13455 San Pasqual Road; go to
orfila.com or call 760-738-6500, ext. 24.

Harrah's buffet reopening:
Harrah's Rincon
Casino & Resort will reopen The Buffet on June 13 after a $6.2
million renovation that will increase seating capacity by more than
30 percent. The new buffet will also have expanded salad and sushi
bars, a new tortilla station, a BBQ smoker, a tandoor oven, a
dessert bar and more. Go to harrahsrincon.com or call
760-751-3100.

"Game On":
Quality Social in the Gaslamp
Quarter has launched "Game On" charity game nights from 6 to 8:30
p.m. Tuesdays to raise money for a different local charity each
week. For example, earlier this month, attendees played Operation
and Pictionary, with a silent auction, to benefit Jeans4Justice.
E-mail info@landmark-events.com to reserve a game time. Go to
qualitysocial.com or call 619-501-7675.

Suite & Tender launches nightly specials:
The downtown San Diego restaurant is offering new specials every
night. On Sundays, bottles of wine under $90 are half-price; on
Mondays, hospitality industry workers get 25 percent (with ID);
free valet service is available on Tuesdays; corkage fees are
waived on Wednesdays (up to three bottles, local ID required);
residents in the 92101 ZIP code get 25 percent off on Thursdays;
and on Fridays and Saturdays, a $30 three-course menu is offered
from 9 p.m. to close. The three-course, $30 menu is also offered
mid-week. Visit suiteandtender.com.

Kids eat free:
Through Monday, children ages 12
and younger eat free (with the purchase of an adult entree) at
Loews Coronado Bay Resort to celebrate the hotel being ranked among
the top 10 "Best Family Beach Vacations" by Parents magazine. Go to
loewshotels.com.

Pintail ale makes debut:
Karl Strauss Brewing
Co. has released its seasonal Pintail Pale Ale as it has for the
past nine years, but this year, it's available in bottles. The 5.3
percent ABV American pale ale, with pine and citrus flavors, is
available in six-packs at Karl Strauss restaurants and select beer
bars. Go to karlstrauss.com or call 858-273-2739.

Smashburger opens in La Jolla:
Denver-based
Smashburger has opened its first San Diego County store at 1000
Prospect St. in La Jolla. The quick-service restaurant specializes
in 100-percent certified Angus beef burgers. The name comes from
the cooking technique, where fresh beef patties are smashed on a
flat grill to sear in juices. The local eatery's signature burger
is the San Diego Smashburger, served with avocado, cilantro,
onions, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo on a torta role with
lime wedge. The restaurant also serves chicken sandwiches, dogs,
salads, gourmet fries, Haagen-Dazs shakes, floats and San
Diego-made beers and wines. Visit smashburger.com.

Kona coffee at Jack in the Box:
Jack in the Box
restaurants are now offering premium coffee made with Kona beans in
their hot and iced drinks. Kona Classic is available for $1.39 to
$1.59 for regular and large hot coffees, and $1.99 for a 24-ounce
iced coffee. Go to www.jackinthebox.com.

Big Barrel Double IPA returns:
Karl Strauss
Brewing Co. has released a spring version of its Big Barrel Double
IPA, which uses New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops for a tropical fruit
flavor. The 9 percent ABV beer is available in 22-ounce bottles and
on draft across Southern California; go to karlstrauss.com or call
858-273-2739.

Restaurateur blogs:
Ed Moore of 3rd Corner Wine
Shop & Bistro, which has locations in Encinitas and Ocean
Beach, will open a third location in Palm Desert, and he is
blogging about the process of building a new restaurant. Go to
www.the3rdcorner.com/blog.

Melting Pot opens in San Diego:
The Melting Pot
has opened another San Diego location, this one in the Gaslamp
Quarter at 901 Fifth Ave., in the former location of Dakota Grill
& Spirits. The franchise is operated by the Cohn Restaurant
Group, and it is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and
5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The two-story dining room can
seat more than 175 guests, and the fondue restaurant has a "lover's
lane" seating area and two private banquet rooms. Go to
meltingpot.com or call 619-234-5554.

Mining Company specials:
The Old California
Mining Company, at 1020 San Marcos Blvd. in Old California
Restaurant Row in San Marcos, recently announced new food and drink
specials. Lunch specials start at $5.99, served from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. daily. The New York Surf N Turf is a hand-cut 12-ounce New
York choice steak with coconut shrimp and a baked potato. Other new
specials are Whiskey Ribeye, Applewood Smoked Prime Rib (served
after 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, while supplies last), Lemon
Pepper Salmon and Monterey Mahi Mahi. Drink specials include Monday
$5 you-call-its, Tuesday On Tap, Wednesday and Sunday half-price
bottles of wine, Thursday $5 martinis, Friday $1 off specialty
drinks and Saturday $5 margaritas. Go to
oldcaliforniaminingcompany.com or call 760-761-4900.

Summer savings:
Oggi's Pizza and Brewing
Company is teaming with the San Diego Padres to offer "Padres
Summer Savings" at the remaining weekday afternoon games and select
weeknight games. Tickets will be buy one, get one free in select
sections, and fans in those sections will have a chance to win free
Oggi's pizza. Eligible games are: 3:35 p.m. May 27, 3:35 p.m. June
2, 3:35 p.m. June 16, 12:25 p.m. June 30, 3:35 p.m. July 29, 3:35
p.m. Aug. 12, 3:35 p.m. Aug. 26 and 3:35 p.m. Sept. 30 (weeknight
games were not announced). Go to padres.com/tickets or call
619-795-5555.

Personal chef service:
The Guest Gourmet is now
available for individuals and families in North County. Services
include weekly meals, catered dinners and special events, grocery
service and in-home cooking demonstrations. The Guest Gourmet is
run by Teri McIllwain, who recently served as assistant chef at
Bluefire Grill at the La Costa Resort and Spa; McIllwain blogs at
www.theguestgourmet.blogspot.com. E-mail theguestgourmet@gmail.com
or call 760-715-2869.

Double happy hour:
East Village Asian Diner in
Encinitas is offering "double happy hour" specials daily, with the
first happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. and the second from 9 p.m. to
close, through the end of June. During happy hour, draft beers are
$3. Go to www.eateastvillage.com.

P.F. Chang's wine label:
P.F. Chang's
restaurants have launched VINEYARD 518, a label of handcrafted
wines available exclusively to diners. P.F. Chang's is working with
Wattle Creek Winery in Mendocino; the first wines available are
Sauvignon Blanc and a Syrah blend. Go to pfchangs.com.

Free parking:
During select Padres games in
June, Bice restaurant is offering free valet parking for guests who
enjoy dinner for two or more, from 5 to 11 p.m. Valet parking is
generally $15 during the week and $20 on weekends; qualifying games
are June 1, 11, 14, 15, 18, 28 and 29. Go to www.bicesandiego.com
or call 619-239-2423.

Blanca replaces chef
: Just seven months after
hiring high-profile Brooklyn-based chef Jason Neroni, Blanca
Restaurant in Solana Beach has announced his replacement. Neroni
left Blanca earlier this month, citing family reasons for his move
back to New York (his wife was unable to find work in Southern
California). Taking Neroni's place is longtime Bay area chef Gavin
Schmidt.

Schmidt, who will arrive at Blanca on Friday, served as
executive chef of the Compton Place Hotel (Mobile 4 Stars) and
Nectar, chef de cuisine at Coi Restaurant (Michelin 2 stars), and
sous chef at Aqua, Elizabeth Daniel and Fifth Floor. Blanca
officials say Schmidt is creating a "farm to table" menu that is
"right in line with the San Diego palate." During Neroni's brief
tenure, the restaurant racked up stellar reviews from food critics,
but Neroni told a local food writer that diners weren't as sold on
the often-ambitious menu. Visit dineblanca.com.

Malarkey returns:
Chef Brian Malarkey, the
former Oceanaire chef best known for his appearance on "Top Chef,"
will return to TV at 10 p.m. June 7 on TLC for "Mega Bites." The
special shows Malarkey attempting to make the world's largest Rice
Krispies Treat as a fundraiser for La Canada Flintridge, which was
devastated by recent fires and mudslides. Malarkey will also open
his first restaurant, Searsucker, in the coming months.

Fieri at the fair:
Guy Fieri, the star of Food
Network's "Guy's Big Bite" and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," will
do a cooking show at 7:30 p.m. June 19 on the San Diego County
Fair's Grandstand Stage at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Fieri's show,
free with fair admission, is part cooking, part comedy, part rock
and roll. Visit sdfair.com.

W Hotel introduces new chef:
The W Hotel San
Diego recently announced that chef John Garcia is its new head of
culinary operations. Garcia previously worked at the Ritz-Carlton
in Laguna Niguel, the Hotel del Coronado, the Bellagio and others.
Go to thewhotelsandiego.com or call 619-398-3100.

Terra chef releases cookbook:
Jeff Rossman,
chef and owner of Terra Restaurant in Hillcrest, will release "From
Terra's Table: New American Food Fresh From Southern California's
Organic Farms" this fall through Chefs Press Inc. The 208-page
hardcover book will retail for $29.95 and will include information
on local organic farms. Each recipe will feature beer and wine
pairings; recipes include Grilled Cheese "Toast" With Mushrooms And
Roasted Shallots, Caramelized Spring Onion Ravioli, Pumpkin Bisque,
Karl Strauss Amber Lager Braised Short Ribs, Avocado Daiquiri and
more. Go to chefspress.com.

Menifee chef wins cooking contest:
Menifee
resident Reid Sinderud, the executive chef at Loma Linda University
Medical Center, won the "McCormick's Spice Master Challenge" at
last month's Spring Food Show, sponsored by Sysco Food Services of
Los Angeles. Sinderud beat out chefs from all over Southern
California with his recipe for Tipitapa Crusted Sea Bass With
Hazelnuts And Mango Puree. Sinderud called the award gratifying
because it helps change the perception that healthy hospital food
tastes bad.

Bernard'O chef heads south:
Patrick Ponsaty,
the former chef de cuisine at Bernard'O and El Bizcocho restaurants
in Rancho Bernardo, has been hired as the new chef de cuisine at
Mistral at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in Coronado. Since joining
Loews, the fifth-generation French chef has introduced a
seafood-focused, French-inspired menu at Mistral. Some of the
Clairemont resident's new dishes are Lobster Risotto, Citrus
Steamed Alaskan Halibut and Slow Cooked Kurobuta Pork Loin. Loews
spokeswoman Anne Stephany said that many of Ponsaty's former RB
customers are driving down to Mistral, so the resort is offering a
"Friends of Patrick" room special for $129 a night (based on
availability) as well as an "island escape" package including a
one-night stay, three-course dinner for two at Mistral, breakfast
for two at the Market Cafe and validated parking for $299 a couple.
Visit loewshotels.com.

Marine Room chefs release cookbook:
Bernard
Guillas and Ron Oliver, the chefs at La Jolla's Marine Room
restaurant, have published "Flying Pans ---- Two Chefs, One World,"
a combination cookbook and travelogue. The book, recently nominated
as "Cookbook of the Year" in the Book of the Year Awards, contains
more than 40 recipes inspired by their global gourmet adventures,
including recipes drawn from the cuisines of Peru, the Czech
Republic, Italy, the Caribbean, Switzerland and more. The book
sells for $35 at Borders, Barnes & Noble and online at
twochefsoneworld.com. The chefs kicked off the book's publication
this week with a New York promotional tour.

NEW MENUS

Specials at Marie Callender's:
Starting Friday,
Marie Callender's locations will have two new specials. Through
June 30, any whole pie will be available to go for $6.99 (pies are
usually $10.49 to $15.49; excludes fresh-fruit pies and
cheesecakes). Also, the restaurants are introducing "Marie's New
Burger Combo," a specialty hamburger, fries and a slice of pie, all
for $8.99. Specialty burgers are the Cabo San Lucas Burger; the
Mushroom, Onion & Swiss Burger; the BBQ Cheddar Burger; and the
Pepper-Crusted Gorgonzola Burger. Go to
www.mariecallenders.com.

Sammy's offers gluten-free:
Sammy's Woodfired
Pizza restaurants have expanded their gluten-free menu offerings to
include more than 30 items. Gluten-free items include Fresh Tomato
Basil Soup; five selections from the "Tapas" section, including Oak
Roasted Asparagus and Baba Ghanoush; Woodfired Pizzas on a
gluten-free crust, with varieties including Caprese, Sicilian, Brie
Cheese With Truffle Oil, Spiced Ground Kobe Beef, Five Cheese,
Vegetarian and many more; almost 10 selections from the Salads
menu; Oak Roasted Chicken Breast; and Grilled Chicken Wrap. Go to
sammyspizza.com.

New at Twenty/20:
Twenty/20 Grill & Wine
Bar in Carlsbad has several new offerings, from tapas to local
flavors to special menus. Tapas Thursdays are back, with items
between $1 and $10 and special wines for $5 for glass. Tapas
include Garlic Rubbed Bruschetta With Olive Oil And Balsamic;
Chicken Taco With Avocado, Virginia Ham, Lime And Crema; Korean
Beef BBQ With Watermelon, Japanese Cucumber And Mint; Wild Salmon
With Roasted Valdivia Farms Tomato Salad And Snow Peas; Brandt
Farms Petit Filet With Mushrooms And Shropshire Cheese; and more.
Twenty/20 will offer Prix-Fixe Fridays, with a three-course menu
based on local ingredients, for $30 each Friday. Also, the
restaurant will host winemaker dinners the second Wednesday of each
month. Go to twenty20grill.com or call 760-827-2400.

LOUNGEsix has new menu:
Chef Christian Graves
of LOUNGEsix, the rooftop bar in San Diego, has a new menu,
featuring items such as Pork Tacos, Balsamic Portobello Sliders,
Mini Meatball Subs, Grilled Quesadilla, Breakfast Burrito, Cookies
And Cream, and Steak And Egg Hash. LOUNGEsix is also offering a $6
lunch choice of a Turkey And Avocado Sandwich On Toasted Sourdough
Bread or Grilled Vegetarian Sandwich With Grilled Portobello,
Eggplant, Pesto And Goat Cheese. Lunch comes with fresh-baked
cookies and an apple. Go to www.jsixrestaurant.com or call
619-531-8744.

Palm baseball menu:
The Palm Bar at the Palm
restaurant near Petco Park is now offering a baseball menu, which
can be enjoyed in the bar or taken to-go to enjoy at the ballpark
for Wednesday and Thursday home games. Palm Steakburgers are $14
and include the 837 Club Burger (prosciutto di Parma, roasted red
peppers, pesto aioli and fontina cheese), the Second Ave. Burger
(Danish blue cheese and smoked bacon), Bozzi Burger (aged gouda,
smoky barbecue sauce and crispy fried onions), and Classic Burger
(cheddar cheese); all burgers are 12 ounces of prime beef on a
toasted brioche bun with hand-cut french fries, cottage fries or
horseradish slaw. Palm will also offer salads and $3 Trumer Pilsner
on game days. Call 619-702-6500.

Tabasco at Major Market:
Major Market in
Escondido will host representatives from the McIlhenny Co., which
makes the Tabasco brand pepper sauce, from Friday to Monday. The
representatives will be sampling the entire Tabasco line and
showing off gift items. Call 760-741-7827.

West celebrates SATC:
West Steak Seafood and
Spirits in Carlsbad will host a Glamour Girls Cocktail Party from 5
to 7 p.m. Thursday to celebrate the release of the movie "Sex and
the City 2." Women are invited to wear a little black dress to
receive a free glass of bubbly; the SATC-inspired drink of the
night, the "Glamour Gal," will be $6. Sign up for the West e-mail
club for a chance to win a pair of Manolo Blahniks, movie tickets
to see the film or a one-night stay at West Inn & Suites. Call
760-930-9100.

Memorial weekend lunch special:
Pinnacle
Restaurant at Falkner Winery in Temecula is offering a lunch
special on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with jazz entertainment in
the outdoor area on Saturday and Sunday. The lunch for two is $55
and includes a shared appetizer, separate entrees, a shared dessert
and two glasses of wine. Menu items include Spiced Duck Breast
Salad, Slow Roasted Jerk BBQ Spiced Baby Back Ribs, Pesto Shrimp
Pasta and Three-Layer Chocolate Decadence Cake. Go to
falknerwinery.com or call 951-676-8231, ext. 1.

RA fundraiser:
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant will
host its sixth annual "Nicky's Week" fundraiser Sunday through June
5, benefiting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During
that week, RA will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from a
special "Nicky's Week" menu to the hospital. Go to rasushi.com or
call 619-321-0021.

Dick's hosts strawberry fest:
Dick's Sporting
Goods hosts the 2010 Strawberry Festival 5K & Kids Run from
6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 101 Wave Drive in Vista. The event
includes a 5-kilometer race for adults, a 1-mile children's run,
and strawberry sales, vendor booths, art displays, a health and
fitness expo and more at the finish line. Cost to register is
$20-$30. Festival events include a strawberry pie-eating contest,
carnival rides, vendors, karaoke and more. Visit
www.kinanevents.com for the race or www.vistastrawberryfest.com for
general information.

Sustainable Seafood Week:
Cooks Confab will
host Fish!, a week of sustainable seafood, from Monday to June 6.
Events include prix-fixe sustainable seafood menus at participating
restaurants all week; Fish! Facts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with an
appetizer reception, a lecture from marine ecologist Jeremy Jackson
and a screening of "End of the Line": and on June 6, the Fish!
Forum and Fish! will include dialogue on fisheries for the future,
followed by the dinner at 1500 OCEAN for $125. Go to
cooksconfab.com or call 619-522-8490.

Bartender challenge:
The San Diego Spirits
Festival will host the highlight event, the Dual Bartender/Chef
Challenge, from 5 to 8 p.m. June 3 at the US Grant hotel in San
Diego. Six teams of two will create a signature cocktail with a
small-plate pairing; teams will come from The Big Easy, Grant
Grill, BICE, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, Se San Diego
and more. For tickets, go to www.sandiegospiritsfestival.com. The
Spirits Festival ends June 5 with a Grand Tasting event.

Wine, cheese and chocolate:
The San Diego
Women's History Museum & Educational Center is hosting its
annual San Diego Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Festival from 6:30 to
10 p.m. June 4 in the Spanish Village at Balboa Park. Dozens of
chocolatiers, cheese and wine vendors will offer samples, and Sue
Palmer (the "queen of boogie woogie") will entertain. Tickets are
$25 before May 30 and $30 at the door, and VIP tickets, which
include reserved seating and drink vouchers, are $50; go to
www.womensmuseumsd.org or call 619-233-7963.

Balloon, wine fest returns:
The Temecula Valley
Balloon & Wine Festival is set for June 4-6 at Lake Skinner.
More than 22 wineries will be pouring their wines at the festival;
tickets are available at www.tvbwf.com. There will be food and wine
pairing events at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 5 ($72) and noon June 6
($65). Three courses will each be prepared by a different chef and
paired with a different wine. Participating restaurants include
Ravioli's, Rustico, Gourmet Italia, Frankie's Steak and Seafood,
D'Canters and The Edge Restaurant & Lounge; participating
wineries include Wiens, Frangipani, Stuart Cellars, Briar Rose,
Boorman Winery and Atwood Winery. Go to www.tvbwf.com.

Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival:
Rotary Club of
Encinitas hosts its annual fundraising gala featuring international
wines, local microbrews and cuisine from 5 to 8 p.m. June 5 at San
Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Tickets
are $85 (tickets are $100 after Saturday). Visit
encinitaswinefestival.com.

Carbo load:
To help runners prepare for the
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon (and Half-Marathon) on June 6, Bice will
offer a special small-plates menu on June 5, full of carbohydrates.
Specials include Squid Ink Spaghetti With Sea Bass And Bottarga
Shaved Dry Aged Tuna Roe, Homemade Ricotta And Spinach Ravioli With
Asparagus And Smoked Salmon In Pink Sauce, Pappardelle With
Mozzarella Cheese And Fresh Basil In Tomato Sauce, Beef Tortellini
In A 24-Months Ages Parmesan Cheese Sauce With Green Peas And
Prosciutto, Oven Baked Lasagna With a Veal, Beef And Pork Bolognese
Sauce, and Nutella Ravioli Served With Caramel And Rice Pannacotta.
The dinner is $40 and includes flat or sparkling bottled water; go
to bicesandiego.com or call 619-239-2423.

Dining in the Dark:
The San Diego chapter of
the Foundation Fighting Blindness will host a fund-raising gala
dinner from 6 to 9:30 p.m. June 10 at the US Grant Hotel in San
Diego that includes a sensory awareness experience where diners
will eat their dinner in a pitch-black room to replicate the
experience of dining without sight. Sight-impaired waiters will act
as servers. The event also includes a lighted pre-dinner reception
and post-dinner awards ceremony. Cost is $300. For reservations,
call 310-207-2089 or email Cheyanne Sauter at
csauter@fightblindness.org.

Winemaker dinner:
Bistro 39 at the Hilton
Garden Inn in Del Mar will host a five-course Paso Robles winemaker
dinner at 6:30 p.m. June 10. The dinner is $39 per person; menu
items include a shrimp and scallop kabob, lamb t-bone, chicken
mole, grilled hanger steak and chocolate hazelnut cake. Each dish
is paired with a wine, with most coming from Stanger Vineyards; go
to www.bistro39sandiego.com or call 858-720-9500.

Culinary cinema series:
The Oceanside Museum of
Art will continue its Culinary Cinema Series at 5:30 p.m. June 12
with "Tampopo" and Japanese cuisine. Before the screening, there
will be sushi hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine; after the film, Harney
Sushi will prepare a sit-down dinner of ramen soup with chicken,
noodles, egg and tobanjian. There will also be a dessert and coffee
bar; tickets are $65. Go to www.oma-online.org or call
760-435-3721.

Jazz brunches:
The Westgate Hotel in San Diego
will host jazz brunches on its Riviera Fountain Terrace from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from June 20 to Sept. 5. The brunch is $49
per person; go to westgatehotel.com or call 619-557-3655.

Beer & Sake Festival:
The Japan Society of
San Diego presents its annual international festival from 6 to 9
p.m. June 25 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar. Ticket-holders can
sample more than 100 international sakes and regional micro-beers
and watch the Sushi Star sushi chef contest. Tickets are $60. Order
at japan-society.org.

TAPS dinner:
Cafe Merlot and LifeStyles In
Focus will host a "Dinner for a Cause" benefitting T.A.P.S. (Teen
Adolescent Placement Services) at 6 p.m. June 26. The dinner and
wine tasting event, at Cafe Merlot (13330 Paseo del Verano Norte in
Rancho Bernardo), is $75 per person and $120 per couple. Go to
www.lifestylesinfocus.com/upcoming-events.php.

Taste of Gaslamp:
The Gaslamp Quarter in San
Diego will host its 17th annual Taste of Gaslamp, presented by
Samuel Adams, from 1 to 4 p.m. June 26 and 27, on the streets of
the Gaslamp, with more than 25 venues participating. Restaurants
will show off house specialties in the form or 2- to 4-ounce
samples; guests also receive a "Taste of Gaslamp" recipe book, and
there's a beer garden for those ages 21 and older. Tickets are $30
per day and are available beginning in May at www.gaslamp.org.

Spirits certification:
The Wine Smarties wine
certification program will offer a WSET Level 2 Intermediate
Certificate in Wine & Spirits starting June 26, and will offer
the WSET Professional Certificate in Spirits on July 12. Go to
www.winesmarties.com.

Taste of the Nation San Diego:
Share Our
Strength will host its 18th annual tasting event from 1 to 4 p.m.
June 27 in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Del Coronado. Dozens of
local chefs and beverage purveyors will offer gourmet tastings at
the event, which also includes a silent auction. Participating
restaurants include Whisknladle, BICE, Quality Social, Urban
Solace, Red Marlin, Mistral, Addison and more. Tickets are $60 in
advance, $75 at the door and $125 for VIP admission. Proceeds
benefit programs to end childhood hunger. For tickets, call
877-268-2783 or visit tasteofthenation.org.

Family movie night:
Ponte Family Estate Winery
in Temecula's Wine Country will host a family movie night at 7:30
p.m. July 9 to raise funds for Team Ponte, a team of employees and
community members running in the America's Finest City Half
Marathon and 5K (to benefit Oak Grove Center). There will be
popcorn, watermelon, candy, ice cream and wine available for
purchase, and the movie will be "Monsters vs. Aliens." Admission is
free (donations accepted), and chairs will be provided. Go to
pontewinery.com or call 951-694-8855.

Amaya wine dinner:
Amaya at The Grand Del Mar
resort will host its second annual four-course Mouton Noir Wine
Dinner at 5:30 p.m. July 16 for $70 per person. Courses include
sauteed turbot with an heirloom tomato broth, and veal New York
strip with crispy sweetbreads and sherry-braised collard greens. Go
to granddelmar.com or call 858-314-1988.

Cocktail hour:
The Lobby Lounge at The Grand
Del Mar will host "Mastering Mixology: Summer Sins and Saints," a
class on making chilled cocktails, at 4 p.m. Aug. 14 for $25 per
person. Cocktails include herb-infused and tropical fruit mojitos,
as well as non-alcoholic concoctions. Go to granddelmar.com or call
858-314-1988.

BBQ 'n Blues:
Terra Restaurant in Hillcrest's
BBQ 'n Blues series, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 16,
allows diners to choose from a selection of main courses (Barbecued
St. Louis-Style Ribs, Jerk-Marinated Pork Loin, Chimichurri Grilled
Skirt Steak and Hoisin Mustard Glazed BBQ Salmon are just a few)
and two sides, which rotate weekly, for $17.95. Musicians include
Ben Powell and Robin Henkel; Terra is on the 3900 block of Vermont
Street. Call 619-293-7088.

CLASSES

Alchemy of the Hearth:
Offers cooking classes
at its new location, 960 Rancheros Drive, Suite L, San Marcos.
Classes at 4 p.m. are geared toward children and teens. Alchemy of
the Hearth is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Go to alchemyofthehearth.com or call
760-233-2433.

Marine Room:
Chefs Bernard Guillas and Ron
Oliver of The Marine Room in La Jolla will host a summer cooking
class at 6 p.m. June 23. The class is $65 and includes a wine
pairing; courses include Hazelnut Dukkah Crusted Baja Prawns,
Potato Rosemary Crusted Halibut and Amarula Creme Brulee. After the
class, attendees will eat the dishes; call 858-459-7222.

RB Classic Cooking:
Charles Heineke teaches
cooking classes in his commercial kitchen at 1291 Simpson Way,
Escondido. Go to www.rbclassiccooking.com or call 858-442-5252. RB
Classic Cooking has several monthly cooking clubs: a cooking co-op
at 9:30 a.m. the first Thursday and 6 p.m. the first Friday; an
international cooking club at 6:30 p.m. the third Saturday; a
singles cooking club at 7 p.m. the fourth Friday; and a kids
cooking club at 9 a.m. the second Saturday.

RB Classic Cooking also offers meal plans: light and healthy
meals are $75 for seven dinners and $185 for weekly meals (21
meals), delivered to your door twice weekly in 1,200-, 1,500- or
1,800-calorie counts. Family meal plans are $150 for four dinners,
with four servings each.

Ro Z's Sweet Art Studio:
Rosanne Zinniger's
cake decorating shop and studio at 277 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San
Marcos, offers classes in cake decorating. There is also a kids
cake decorating club for children ages 7 to 11 on one Saturday of
every month; go to the website for dates. Call 760-744-0447 or
visit rozsweetartstudio.com.

Acqua Al 2:
The Gaslamp Quarter restaurant
hosts wine tastings during "Uncorked" the first Wednesday of every
month at 322 Fifth Ave. in San Diego. For $20, guests taste four
wine/spirit selections paired with four appetizers. Reservations
are required; call 619-230-0382 or go to acquaal2.com.

The Collective:
Tasting lounge features
one-of-a-kind, handmade boutique wines at 28544 Front Street in Old
Town Temecula. Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays,
noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m.
Sundays. Call 951-693-4567 or go to tvwinecollective.com.

ENO-Versity at the Hotel Del:
ENO, the wine,
cheese and chocolate tasting room at the Hotel del Coronado, has
announced its 2009 classes for ENO-Versity. Classes are $35 per
person and start at 4 p.m.; call 619-522-8546 or go to
hoteldel.com/ENO-wine. The Hotel Del is at 1500 Orange Ave. in
Coronado. ENO is also offering "Tasting Tuesdays" from 5 to 8 p.m.,
offering 10 wine samples for $10; "Say Cheese" Wednesdays from 5 to
10 p.m. with half-off cheese flights; "Bubbly Thursdays" from 5 to
10 p.m. with half-off sparkling wine by the glass or bottle; and $5
Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. with $5 glasses of wine.

The North County Wine Company:
Tastings daily
at 1099 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, plus special events from 10
a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Call
760-744-2119 or visit www.NorthCountyWineCompany.com.

Stone Brewery:
The Escondido brewery and
restaurant is hosting events at 1999 Citracado Parkway in
Escondido. The bistro also hosts movies in its garden. Call
760-471-4999 or go to www.stonebrew.com.

-- June 14:
Women Only: Strong Ales

-- Aug. 3:
Fresh Dinner

T&H Prime Meats & Sausage:
The shop now
offers tastings from 10 San Diego wineries from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursdays-Saturdays for $5, which includes four tastes and a San
Diego Vintners Association souvenir wine glass, at 735 E. Mission
Road, San Marcos. Call 760-471-9192.

Vine to Glass:
The Oceanside wine bar holds
tastings six days a week and has biweekly events for $10 to $15;
small-production boutique wines are available by the glass or
bottle. Beer tastings are $6; antipasto platters are $15. The bar
is open 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 1 to 9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday; and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Vine to Glass is at
210-A N. Coast Highway in Oceanside; call 760-757-2254 or go to
vinetoglass.com.

Vinz Wine Bar:
Full restaurant menu with wide
wine menu by the glass or bottle. Tastings are from $5-$10 from 5
to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and come with
charcuterie and cheese. Live music on Saturdays. Vinz is at 201 E.
Grand Ave., Escondido. Call 760-743-8466 or visit
vinzwinebar.net.

The Wine Spot:
Tastings at its new location,
2917 State St., Carlsbad. House tastings are offered any time; call
for the tasting of the week. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. Sunday; call 760-434-9463 or visit the-wine-spot.com.

Wine Styles:
The Encinitas wine store hosts
tastings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays.
Cost is $15 or $10 for WineClub members and includes six to eight
wines and snacks. The shop also hosts WineDown Fridays, where
guests enjoy wine and live music and can bring in food to
socialize. Call 760-633-0057.